Fife sets buy back target for houses to ease accommodation crisis
Fife Council will attempt to purchase up to 100 properties in the next 12 months as it works to tackle the current housing crisis.
Members of the local authority’s Cabinet Committee heard last week that a total of 1798 affordable houses are set to be delivered by May 2029 across the Kingdom.
Agreement was also reached that up to 100 properties could be purchased as the council responds to the housing emergency. This follows from a previous target of 50 property purchases.
Housing chief John Mills explained: “The key proposal is to approve additional acquisition activities for this financial year to supplement the new build supply and to continue exploration of alternative funding to support future delivery. In terms of acquisitions, we are only taking a one year approach at this point in time. We need to consider what is next in terms of acquisitions going forward.”
Since 2022, Fife Council acquired a total of 293 properties which has included 25 new build “off the shelf” from developers.
The 100 target, it is expected, will be a mix of around 80 buybacks and 20 new purchases.
SNP councillor Brian Goodall said: “We are all agreed we need to do more and as much as we can. I particularly welcome the suggested change in approach for acquisitions. A doubling of the target that is recommended in the report. It has only taken four years of continuous pestering from myself and others to get to this stage.”
Councillor John Beare (SNP) welcomed the increased target, highlighting that it was quicker to turn around a purchased property to be occupied than a new build.
“If in a housing emergency, the difference between 12 weeks and 18 months is quite stark,” he said. Our responsibility is to ensure residents of Fife are housed as quickly as possible in appropriate accommodation.”
Labour councillor Altany Craik was cautious about increasing the target, adding: “We are dancing around whether we say 50 or 100. It is unhelpful to have a target like that because then putting pressure that you must buy something.
“The new build purchases part is important to make sure we understand what we are getting when they come to the market.I am quite comfortable with the recommendation there saying purchase up to 100 properties through buy backs and acquisition.”